by Tao Wong
The Arena’s Call
Book 4 of the Adventures on Brad
By Tao Wong
The Arena’s Call
License Notes
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Copyright © 2018 Tao Wong. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018 Felipe deBarros Cover Artist
Copyright © 2018 Sarah Anderson Cover Designer
ISBN: 9781775380955
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Author’s Note
Chapter 1
Separated from the trio of heroes by a simple metal gate, the twelve-foot-long, luminescent green scaled and squat drake lay dozing in the Mana-lit cavern. Enclosed all around by cold stone, the drake slumbered fitfully, the silence only broken by the slow drip of water that formed a pool in the corner. As the trio watched, the drake yawned lazily and showed the inside of its pink mouth, one filled with rows upon rows of sharp, deadly teeth.
“I am not enjoying these surprises,” Omrak said softly while the trio edged backwards from the metal gate. Reaching over his broad shoulders, the giant blond Northerner pulled his large two-handed sword from its utilitarian sheath to eye the blade.
“Well, it’s just a single Dungeon Champion,” Daniel Chai said as he adjusted his shield. His plate mail armor clanking slightly as he moved, the shorter, slant-eyed and flat-nosed Adventurer added, “I rather like the change after fighting all those lizards.”
“Tough,” Asin hissed, her furry tail lashing out beside her as cat ears twitched, clawed hands kneading the soil as she watched behind them. Her short cloak covered her body, helping her to hide in the shadows she’d instinctively found, her dark fur blending in.
“I agree with Hero Asin,” Omrak growled. “A drake is significantly tougher than what we have dealt with before.”
“Too tough for us?” Daniel asked, eyes narrowing even further to slits. While no longer a Beginner Adventurer, Daniel knew he was still new to the adventuring lifestyle. It had not even been two years since he left his lifestyle as a Miner.
“For us heroes? Nay. We should be able to defeat this opponent,” Omrak said with renewed confidence. The teenager flashed a grin, lazily swinging the sword around his hand as he limbered up. “I but spoke for caution, to temper overconfidence. A hero must understand themselves.”
Asin chuffed slightly, her back arching and tail straightening for a second as her cat ears tilted downward. Daniel coughed at the same time as he stopped the bubbling laughter. Omrak telling them to not be overconfident. Daniel found himself smiling, the spike of concern fading.
“Start,” Asin said and walked over to the wooden lever that controlled the gate. She regarded her friends one last time to receive their agreement before she pulled on the device. Daniel shifted forward, his heavy crossbow in hand, a bulbous bolt locked in place.
With a screech, the pulley rose to the clanking of chains. As the noise reverberated around the cavern, the drake woke from its sleep. Twisting its long, sinuous neck towards the source of the noise, it hissed at Omrak who was in the process of ducking underneath the rising blockade.
“Come. Let us do battle and determine our worthiness!” Omrak roared his challenge and kept the monster’s attention as he strode in, his simple, black leather breastplate made of monster hide the Northerner’s only protection. In retaliation, the drake roared back its challenge.
“Good,” whispered Daniel, the crossbow snug against his shoulder as he crouched. He gently squeezed the trigger, the crossbow kicking back as he targeted the monster’s open mouth. Not realising he was doing it, Daniel held his breath as the bolt spun through the air and missed the open mouth, slamming into the creature’s neck. A small explosion resulted as the explosive bolt triggered, tearing off scales and making the monster scream again.
“Missed!” Asin laughed, lobbing a knife underhand. The knife glowed as it flew through the air as Asin activated Piercing Shot, allowing the throwing knife to drill into the drake’s mouth. The monster roared, the pain making the creature thrash. Its long tail swung around, careening like the end of a catapult into Omrak who had charged forwards to close the distance.
Omrak snarled as he blocked the attack, sword held at an angle as the tail impacted against the weapon and his body. The giant Northerner’s feet skidded backwards, digging into the ground and throwing up soil before the monster’s momentum finally came to an end. Omrak’s sword glowed slightly under his Skill, the drake’s tail notched from the blocked blow, scales crushed and blood beginning to fall. Taking advantage of the momentarily slowed appendage, Asin bounded up the creature’s body before flinging herself high into the air. Knives held beneath her, she landed with a thump on the monster’s back. Rearing itself backward in pain, the drake roared once more in an attempt to throw the Catkin off, even as she wrapped her feet around its body.
“What was that?” Daniel shouted as he rushed forwards, his crossbow discarded as he drew his enchanted hammer and shield. As the drake swung its head towards Daniel, he skidded and fought for purchase on loose sand and slick stone.
Asin ignored her partner’s incredulous shout, too busy attempting to lever a scale off the monster’s back. Even as she did so, arcs of electricity danced from her body into the drake’s, the enchanted bracers she wore continually pulling electricity from the environment and her aura and grounding it in her foe’s body.
Omrak snarled, swinging his great sword with both hands as he struck the drake. Anger coursing through his body at being ignored for his friends, the Northerner swung, again and again, trading ferocity for skill. Even as he righted himself from a stumble, he overextended and was forced to throw himself down to escape a grasping claw.
Struggling to his feet and running forwards, Daniel focused and triggered his skill Shield Bash. The attack slammed the monster’s lunging jaws into the air as he pushed forth with his feet. With quick steps, Daniel swung the spike on his hammer into the exposed wound in the drake’s neck as the head retracted from the initial attack. The spike sunk nearly all the way to the hilt before being ripped out, followed shortly by a flood of blood.
The drake hissed in pain and swung its head at Daniel. This time, Daniel was unable to block it in time, the blow sending him skidding across the ground before ending at the wall. Lying on the ground, Daniel groaned, grateful that the plate armour he wore absorbed the majority of the impact. He focused for a second, casting a Healer’s Mark on his body, starting the healing process to deal with the incipient bruises and pulled muscles.
“Nay, your battle is with me!” roared Omrak as the drake attempted to rush Daniel. His shout triggered his ability Challenge of the North, drawing the drake’s unwilling form to attack him again. Head lowered, it swiped with its front claw only to be blocked by Omrak’s great sword.
Grinning, Daniel stood
up and adjusted his helmet before he took off running, listening to Omrak’s continued taunts and Asin’s yowling as her enchantments took their toll on the monster’s body. Time to finish this, Daniel thought.
As the drake let loose one last roar and collapsed almost on Omrak, Daniel exhaled with relief. As Asin tried to sit up from the floor, Daniel pushed her back down with one hand.
“Lie down damnit!” Daniel growled. “I’ve got to set your hip first unless you want it to heal crooked.”
“Hurts!” Asin yowled but complied, her claws kneading the loose sand as she focused on the large Dungeon Champion’s corpse. The Champion glowed for a moment, its body breaking apart as the Mana that held it together dispersed. With a light tinkle, the blue-grey Mana stone dropped to the ground, almost making Asin sit up again. Only a flash of pain as Daniel set her hip stopped her.
“Ah, here’s the chest!” Omrak happily tromped over to the chest and on Asin’s gold-filled heart. With a careless heave, Omrak opened the chest, curiosity driving his actions. Too late, Daniel noticed the Northerner’s carelessness as the chest released a cloud of gas into Omrak’s face. Coughing and wiping at his face, Omrak staggered back.
“Idiot. You’re supposed to check first!” Daniel snarled as he finished casting Minor Healing (II) on Asin before he strode over to Omrak. “Hold still.” With deft movements, Daniel gripped the Northerner by his leather tunic and splashed water over the man’s face.
“Hero Daniel. I cannot see.” Omrak said, his voice higher than normal, almost panicked.
“It’s fine. Just hold still,” Daniel said soothingly. One hand shifted to grip the blond giant’s arm, the skin contact required for Daniel to trigger his Gift. That was what society called it – a Gift – but for those individuals like Daniel, born with an unexplained power, it was often a burden - for every Gift had a price.
As Daniel extended his Gift into Omrak’s body, a flood of information flowed into his mind. The slightly pulled hamstring. The twisted ankle. The bunion that was growing on Omrak’s foot. The poison that had invaded Omrak’s eyes, blocking the nerves that gave sight. All this and more swept into Daniel’s consciousness. It only took a gentle nudge, the slightest exertion of power to begin the cleansing process. And all it cost Daniel was a memory, a moment of his life. Daniel once again felt it slip from his mind, like an eel from a child’s hand.
“Now, come here,” Daniel guided Omrak to the wall and sat the man down gently. “Your sight will return in a little while. Till then, sit and think about what you did, you big lunk.”
“My apologies, Hero Daniel,” Omrak rumbled, bobbing his head in shame.
“No traps,” Asin announced behind the pair triumphantly, having taken the time to review the once trapped chest. The Catkin then reached inside and fished out a single item - a curved knife in a sheath. On closer inspection, the group noticed runes that indicated that the weapon was likely enchanted.
“Only one?” Daniel said, disappointment tingeing his voice. After all, Karlak had given them two items in the final chest.
“One.” Asin nodded, ears pointed downwards slightly, her tail drooping.
“What! Is there only one treasure?” Omrak shouted as he pushed himself to his feet, hands waving around in front of him.
“Sit down,” Daniel snapped at Omrak. “And yes, there’s only one.”
“Do you think the trap destroyed the other?” Omrak asked guiltily.
“No,” Asin said snippily before she walked over to the Northerner and lifted the Mana stone from his pouch.
“What…? Is that you, Asin?” Omrak said, patting at his newly emptied pouch. “Wait! You only took the stone, right? Asin?”
“She’s gone,” Daniel sighed, shaking his head. Thankfully the Peel Dungeon had an exit from the Dungeon Champion’s cavern. It saved the team from having to trek through the previous floors on their way out of the Dungeon after completing it.
“Why did she leave?” Omrak said, frowning as he turned to where Daniel sat. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. We’re just on a timetable. The Guild closes earlier in Peel, remember?” Daniel patiently explained. With nothing better to do, Daniel pulled his hammer out and began the laborious process of cleaning his weapon. As the silence lengthened, broken only by the swish of cloth on metal, Omrak cleared his throat.
“Yes?” Daniel said.
“Can you tell me a story?” Omrak said, flushing slightly.
“A story?” Daniel said.
“Or just speak,” Omrak said hurriedly. “It’s just, sitting in the dark in the Dungeon…”
“Sorry,” Daniel said with shame. Of course, Omrak was feeling somewhat uncertain. They had spent the last five days battling their way down the Peel Dungeon’s floors, fighting smart lizard creatures who set traps, ran away and otherwise harried the team. As their vanguard, Omrak had suffered the most from the constant sniping attacks.
“My grandfather once told me this story, about the god Hanna. You know of her?” At Omrak’s nod, Daniel continued. “This was long ago. Long before Ba’al broke into Brad, when there were no Dungeons, and the Immortal War had not been fought. It was a more peaceful time when Erlis’s children were numerous and lived with her in her silver palace. Now, Hanna was, and still is, mischievous. Rather than stay at home, she would often sneak down to our plane to frolic with the animals.
“On this day, she found a horse whose coat was the purest white but for the blood that marred it and the wounds that the blood originated from. Hanna rushed forwards, grasping the horse by the side and asked it what had happened. A single touch on the wounds and Hanna pulled her hand back, for the wounds were poisoned. Poisoned with a substance that Hanna had never seen before. But Hanna was a god, a minor god perhaps, but a god and so she vowed to cure the horse.”
Caught in the story, Daniel forgot to wipe down his hammer. Instead, he was taken back, to a simpler time when it was just him and his grandfather. A time where the ring of pickaxes would resound from the mines, the never-ending creak of wheels as they rolled new ore out. A more peaceful time.
“Hanna brought back herbs that could cure any poison upon touch. Flowers that when crushed and mixed cleansed the body. Spells, chanted under breath, to drive toxins out. But nothing worked, no herb, no flower, no spell worked. In desperation, she searched through the mud and pulled out leeches, setting them upon the wound. These leeches would suck, drink the foul poison of the wounds and fall aside, twitching. And still, the wound festered, the horse slowly dying.”
“Surely it did not die?” Omrak said, head tilted to his friend. This was a story he had not heard.
“Patience, friend. The story is not over. When all hope seemed lost, when the beast lay on the ground, Hanna struck upon one last, desperate idea. Holding forth her own arm, she sliced it open with her knife. Her blood fell, mixing with the toxin. Finally, finally, the toxins left the beast, pushed away by Hanna’s divine blood. And so, the horse was healed. But another miracle occurred that day. For divine blood mixed with mortal and through Hanna’s sacrifice, the horse transformed. For now, on its head, a single horn grew, a facet of the divine.”
“A unicorn!” Omrak cried. “Divine creatures, sacred to all.”
“Yes, a unicorn,” Daniel said with a smile.
“That was a good story,” Omrak said with a smile. “And I think I can see again. At least, enough for us to exit.”
“Good. I’m glad you liked it,” Daniel said with a smile as he walked over to help his friend stand. Together, the pair exited the Dungeon slowly. Yet, Daniel could not help but remember the last part of the story, the part that Omrak had interrupted him from telling. For the toxins, driven away by the divine blood, would pool with the leeches that fell earlier. And together, they would mutate, creating the first demon-born. Creatures that held a Mana stone – the blood of the divine – in their body which gave them form.
Later that evening, when things had quietened down, Daniel finally had ti
me to check his notification. Lying in bed, he had to smile. Finally! He had finally achieved his tenth Level and gained access to the Adventurer’s Special Skill – Inventory. It had only taken grinding through the entirety of the Peel Dungeon, killing the Dungeon Champion and getting the Dungeon completion reward. Admittedly, he perhaps shouldn’t have used his Gift on that child…
With a quick wave of his hand, Daniel allocated his free attribute points and pushed away his thoughts. Done was done. Two to intelligence, one each to the physical attributes. He was still a front-line fighter after all and while Willpower allowed him to push through the pain and fear that could afflict him, what the team needed more was regular healing. It was, partially, what kept them in the game.
Content with his decision, Daniel flicked his hand and pulled up his character screen to review it in detail.
Name: Daniel Chai (Advanced Rank Adventurer)
Class: Level 10 Adventurer (33%)
Sub-classes: Level 7 (Miner) (04%)
Human (Male)
Statistics
Life: 296
Stamina: 296
Mana: 217
Attributes
Strength: 28
Agility: 25
Constitution: 31
Intelligence: 23
Willpower: 20
Luck: 15
Skills
Unarmed Combat: Level 3 (93/100)
Clubs (Novice): Level 4 (37/100)
Archery: Level 2 (88/100)
Shield (Novice): Level 2 (64/100)
Dodge: Level 9 (03/100)
Combat Sense: Level 9 (18/100)
Perception (Novice): Level 1 (06/100)
Mining: Level 7 (78/100)
Healing (Novice): Level 2 (48/100)
Herb Lore: Level 3 (42/100)
Stealth: Level 2 (29/100)
Cooking: Level 4 (13/100)
Singing: Level 2 (14/100)